I wanted to laugh, but a vibrant orange streaked the sky announcing the sun’s final rays. Out of time. Fear, instilled with every lecture from my mother, grandmother and aunts, had me sprinting over the blacktop and then down the treacherous gravel driveway.
My house waited ahead, shutters already drawn. The front door stood open, light filling it from inside. I wheezed for air, but didn’t slow.
Behind me, I caught the cadence of running feet harshly hitting the crushed gravel. Another spike of adrenaline filled me. Even this close to home, within sight of my family, I didn’t trust Brian or Clavin to leave me alone. I just hoped it wasn’t Brian behind me. Clavin, heavier and less fit then Brian, meant I’d have a chance.
My mother stood in the door shouting for me to hurry her arms outstretched to catch me. The worry on her face had me turning my head to look behind me while my legs still ate the distance between me and the house. My eyes widened and I cried out for the second time that afternoon.
A dark creature with glowing green eyes and horns galloped on two hooved feet behind me. More shadow than reality, I couldn’t process what chased me.
My mom’s voice called my attention back to her. I quickly turned forward again focusing on her instead of the thing behind me. I sprinted up the steps and through the open door falling to my knees just inside. The door thumped closed behind me before the creature hit the steps.
I never got off my knees before I felt the first light touch on my skin.
“No,” I tried to whisper. I needed to know what waited outside our door. I wanted just a moment before they forced me to sleep. Too bad, I never seemed to get what I wanted.
Chapter 2
When I woke, weak morning light filtered in through my curtains. Lying comfortably in my bed, it took a moment for me to remember everything from the day before.
The house seemed too quiet given my crazy return the prior evening. I turned to look at the clock and my cheek brushed the pillow causing me to wince. Not a good sign. I clenched my teeth against the pain and then regretted it. Even my teeth hurt. The clock displayed seven as usual, but no toast bearer. Did that mean no school?
With the way my face hurt, it wouldn’t bother me a bit to stay home. I struggled to concentrate on anything beyond the throbbing pulse in my cheek. In addition to the pain, I didn’t particularly want to encounter either Brian or Clavin so soon. If they’d hated me because of what I’d said at school, they’d really have it in for me after throwing that rock.
Warm under the blankets piled on my bed, I considered closing my eyes and going back to sleep. But I didn’t. Not after sleeping almost fourteen hours. I’d tapped the desire to sleep.
Facing the inevitable, I pulled back the covers and sat up. My head thumped painfully. Gently, I touched my cheek. The skin felt hot, tight and very puffy. Maybe I had broken something other than the door.
I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood. My legs ached from all the running the day before.
Moving gingerly, I made my way to the bathroom. The bright fluorescent light caused me to squint, which hurt. Quickly turning the light off again, I scowled at the mirror. A big purple-black bruise covered my right cheekbone and partially surrounded my eye. No wonder my face hurt. I hoped I’d bruised Clavin’s hip. Jerks.
Still wearing the same dirt cake clothes from my time in the woods, even the socks, I knew I’d need a good scrub. Well, at least anywhere that didn’t hurt. I took inventory. The scrape on my hand appeared clean, probably by my mom. Dirt streaked my face along with the bruise. The muscles in my legs ached just standing there. Okay, a quick rinse then.
I hurried through my shower, cringing when the water hit my face, palm or scrapped knuckles, while wondering about the unusually quiet house. Typically, we all rushed to get me out the door on time in the morning. Dried, dressed, and brushed, I made my way to the kitchen, my stomach rumbling.
Morning light poured through the kitchen windows illuminating the group that sat around the table. Everyone, except Aunt Danielle, quietly watched my approach. My step slowed at the strange sight. Gran looked sad and slightly worried while my mom and Aunt Grace looked upset. I opened my mouth to ask what was going on, but my mom cut me off.
“We’ve read Belinda’s book to you since you were born. You know the rules. Home before dark. Perform the ritual. Sleep,” she said with censure. “What you did last night is unforgivable.”
My mouth hung open in shock and I snapped it shut angrily, hurting myself and fueling my temper further.
“I can’t believe you think I did that on purpose! Do you not see my face?” I waved at my vividly colored cheek in emphasis. “I was locked in a supply closet, missed the bus, and then had to run home through the woods to avoid the same assholes that did this.”
I was so mad I actually swore in front of my mother for the first time. She didn’t seem to notice.